Mining News - July 2025

Legislative News

Decree 449/2025 of the Executive Branch, published in the Official Gazette on July 7, 2025

This Decree amends articles 10, 18, 26, and 27 of Law 24196 (Investment Regime for Mining Activity), to streamline procedures, reduce bureaucratic burdens, and reallocate powers to expedite the process for obtaining the fiscal stability certificate.

Under this Decree, the certificate must only include the precise date of submission of the feasibility study, and does not require specifying applicable taxes and duties in force at the time of submitting it.

The Decree also establishes that the sworn statements that beneficiaries must submit for each fiscal year concerning the tasks, studies, and investments related to each of their projects, must be accompanied by a technical report prepared by an independent technical professional.

Lastly, the administration of the Argentine Geological Information Bank is transferred to the Argentine Geological Mining Service (SEGEMAR).

Resolution 983/2025 of the Ministry of Economy, published in the Official Gazette on July 16, 2025

This Resolution introduces amendments to the Incentive Regime for Large Investments (RIGI) established by Law 27742. Specifically, it replaces the Annex of Resolution 1074/2024 and repeals articles 2, 3, and 4 of Resolution 1358/2024, optimizing the process for approving imports under the regime.

The Resolution authorizes delegating powers to government secretariats with specific technical competence—depending on the nature of the project—to facilitate approving adherence applications and investment plans that single project entities (VPUs) submit.

Provision 171/2025 of the Secretary of Mining of the Province of Santa Cruz, published in the Official Gazette of the Province of Santa Cruz on July 17, 2025
 

This Provision establishes that payments made under the concepts of “mining usufruct fee,” “mining usufructs,” “use of surface properties and/or royalties,” regardless of their designation (e.g., Net Smelter Return) will not be deductible for determining the mine mouth value.

According to the recitals, such payments made by mining operators are not operational or administrative costs, nor costs related to the beneficiation of the substance, but rather obligations of a different nature. Therefore, they are not deductible in the calculation of the mine mouth value.

This Provision applies to all pending and future filings.

Resolution 59/2025 of the Secretary of Mining, published in the Official Gazette on July 23, 2025

This Resolution amends the procedure for registering in the Mining Investment Registry, regulated by Law 24196 on the Mining Investment Regime, to correct identified inconsistencies and enhance the speed and transparency of administrative processes.

Specifically, it replaces the technical annex of Resolution 30/2018, which established the procedure for applying for benefits under the regime.

It also clarifies and relaxes the requirement to submit the sworn statement in article 25 of Law 24196, which must describe, in advance, the planned tasks, studies, and investments, along with their execution schedule. For fiscal years prior to and including 2024, applicant can comply with this obligation by submitting the sworn statement in article 18 of the same law. This annual statement, submitted after the deadline for filing income tax returns, reports the investments actually made and the work carried out, supported by documentation.

This measure has a remedial effect if the declaration in article 18 meets the requirements of applicable regulations. It does not limit the powers of the enforcement authority to verify, request additional information, or impose sanctions where appropriate.

The resolution also applies to ongoing proceedings as of its effective date.

Mining in the media

“Newmont advances exploration to extend Cerro Negro’s mine life,” published by Minería y Desarrollo on July 3, 2025

Executives from the company presented their plans to the government of Santa Cruz to search for new mineral deposits to extend the operational life of the Cerro Negro project.

Authorities from the Secretariat of Environmental, Energy, and Mining Oversight, under the Ministry of Energy and Mining, held a meeting on Tuesday with Newmont Cerro Negro executives, which operates near the town of Perito Moreno.

“Edenor enters the mining sector, investing in lithium and copper projects in Catamarca,” published by La Nacion on July 4, 2025

Argentina’s leading electricity distributor formalized the acquisition of equity stakes in two companies with exploration projects for lithium and copper in the Province of Catamarca.

Edenor acquired shares representing 40% of the capital stock and 11.76% of the voting rights in Polimetales del Noroeste, a company engaged in copper exploration in western Catamarca. The project covers 60,704 hectares and is in the Maricunga Belt, adjacent to the Valle Ancho area, where NGEx operates with copper and gold mineral occurrences.

Additionally, Edenor acquired 75,000 shares, equivalent to 15% of the capital stock and voting rights, in Integra Recursos Naturales Minerales, a company focused on lithium exploration. Its portfolio spans 220,000 hectares across the regions of Antofalla, Cortaderas, and Ancasti, also in Catamarca.

“Argentina forecasts mining exports exceeding USD 5 billion in 2025,” published by Info Energía on July 18, 2025

Argentina’s mining exports are projected to exceed USD 5 billion in 2025, driven primarily by rising gold prices, according to estimates from the Argentine Association of Mining Companies (CAEM). This projection marks an increase from the USD 4.6 billion recorded in 2024.

CAEM President Roberto Cacciola explained that, although gold and silver production is expected to remain stable or slightly decline in volume, the improvement in international prices will offset the reduction.

“Caputo projects USD 54 billion energy and mining trade surplus by 2033,” published by La Nacion on July 22, 2025

Minister of Economy Luis Caputo shared a chart with projections for Argentina’s energy and mining trade balance, estimating a combined surplus of USD 54 billion by 2033.

On his X account (formerly Twitter), the minister stated: “In six years, between Energy and Mining, we will have an export surplus equivalent to twice that of agriculture,” referring to 2031, when a USD 47 billion surplus is expected from both sectors.

“Galán Lithium gains entry into RIGI,” published by El Ancasti on July 25, 2025

The federal government approved the entry of Galan Lithium’s project into the Regime for Incentives for Large Investments (RIGI), with an investment of USD 217 million in the Salar del Hombre Muerto, Catamarca. This marks the sixth project approved under the RIGI framework and is expected to generate annual exports exceeding USD 180 million, starting in 2029.

“YPF Nuclear: details of the plan for the state oil company’s entry into uranium mining in Chubut,” published by Info Bae on July 25, 2025

YPF is advancing the development of its subsidiary YPF Nuclear, aiming to lead uranium mining in Argentina as part of its 2030 agenda, and to join the initiative led by Demian Reidel at Nucleoeléctrica Argentina to transform Argentina’s energy matrix through nuclear power.

On Wednesday, a meeting was held at the YPF Tower in Puerto Madero with Chubut Governor Ignacio Torres, Chief of Cabinet Guillermo Francos, YPF President Horacio Marín, and Nucleoeléctrica President Demian Reidel to discuss the initiative.

The mining territories involved include: Los Adobes, La Primera, Cerro Solo, Laguna Colorada, El Ganso, El Molino, Arroyo Perdido, Sierra Cuadrada, Sierra Cuadrada Sur, El Cruce, Mirasol Chico, Cerro Chivo, Cateo Unión, Ganso Oeste, La Salteada, La Meseta, and El Picahueso.